The game I built from scratch was just starting to turn heads in the market.

When I came back for the launch at the end of the year, the company wouldn't even let me in. They just fired me.

A partner was fired? That was ridiculous. Even the HR, Hunter, ripped into me like I was a sham.

Later, when the game crashed big time, they were pretty desperate for my help.

"Mr. Foster, you can't go in," someone called out to me.

I had just hurried back from an international tech hub to attend the Cloud Land launch, only to find myself locked out. Everyone gave me weird looks, but nobody spoke up.

"Brandon Foster, you're fired. This launch is none of your business," Ivy Lovell, the CEO's girlfriend, told me.

Stunned, I asked, "Who let me know?"

Ivy, acting all high and mighty, shoved her phone in my face to show me the termination email. It was sent while I was probably flying back home. Naturally, I missed it.

"No need to show your face here after being fired," Ivy said with a sneer, as if I was trash.

Cloud Land was a game I started with Matthew Brown right after college. I was in charge of the game design and coding, and Matthew handled the investments and networking.

The past few years, it was tough getting a game license, and the economy wasn't helping. I kept my head down and worked, and Matthew never gave up. Finally, we launched Cloud Land.

I once believed Matthew barely touched anything else at the company, just focused on testing.

The company got bigger, and Matthew brought his girlfriend Ivy on board. I stayed out of it until recently, when Matthew handed me a labor contract to sign.

"Brandon, now that the company's big, we need to do things by the book. Signing this contract will help us manage our finances legally," Matthew explained emotionlessly.

Holding that contract, I felt cold inside looking at this stranger Matthew had become.

I was a behind-the-scenes guy, but I was not stupid.

Besides, I wasn't Matthew's employee. I was his partner. It wasn't his place to ask me to sign some service contract. We should have stuck to our original partnership agreement.

I didn't make a scene, just took the contract and said I'd sign it later. That contract was probably still in my office drawer, untouched.

Ivy's smug face now was almost funny to me. They needed loads of cash for the launch, even talked about layoffs. But I never thought they'd try to get rid of me first.

I cooled down and told Ivy, "You're not in a position to fire me. Bring Matthew out here."

Ivy stood there, still all high and mighty. "Today's the launch. Are you here to cause trouble, Brandon?"

They all knew no one was more invested in Cloud Land's success than me. The game was my baby for years. I wouldn't wreck it myself. That was why Ivy dared to push me today.

Soon, a few tough-looking security guards closed in on me, as if ready to toss me out at any sign of trouble.

Watching Matthew schmooze with VIPs inside the glass room, I hoped he could keep that smile going.

I had just left the venue when my phone rang. "Brandon, come back, the tech department is a total mess."

I jumped in a cab and raced back to the office.

Most of the tech team were my hires, and I'd trained a lot of them myself. Usually, I let them do their thing, and even though they had lots of work, the vibe was always good.

But today, as soon as I walked in, I could feel the gloom.

When they saw me, they crowded around. "Brandon, Hunter is having one-on-ones and has already fired a bunch of us."

I marched to the conference room, opened the door, and saw my trainee, Robert, shouting at Hunter.

I walked over, tapped Robert on the shoulder, and suggested he step outside.

Robert was fuming. "They're really pushing us around!"

Hunter, kept on Ivy's recommendation, immediately pushed a box toward me when he saw me.

"Mr. Foster... Wait, I can't call you that anymore. You have no ties to the company now.

This box has all your personal stuff. You've been fired, and it's time for you to leave," Hunter said.

I looked into the box and back at Hunter. "Who said you could fire me?"

Hunter stood up, smirked, and threw a contract on the table. "Look, Brandon, isn't that your personal seal right there?"

I checked the contract. My seal was stamped glaringly on the signature page.

"You forged a contract?" I accused.

Hunter was indifferent. "Brandon, talk is cheap without proof. You can't argue with that seal and signature."

I thought, "He really knows how to play dirty."

"Plus," Hunter said, looking outside, "The tech department's salaries are way too high. The company can't afford it anymore. It's either cut pay or cut people. The younger ones can't handle it and have left. Not one sticks with the company.

Brandon, like you, your team is a sham. You're all fluff, no substance.

I could replace them with cheaper, more efficient interns in no time."

Clenching the fake contract, I glared at Hunter and said, "Fine, if you think so little of the tech team, I'll take them with me.

Make sure you compensate us as the law requires."

Hunter turned with a sneer, "You're all just grunts. Hoping for compensation? You'd be lucky to get a month's pay."

Seeing their true colors, I turned and walked away. "See you in court then."

Hunter yelled after me, "Brandon, I can make sure you never work in the game industry again starting tomorrow!"

Hunter seemed sure of himself. Without looking back, I said, "Go ahead and try."

As I walked out of the conference room, everyone looked at me as if I was their lifeline.

Robert stood up first, bold and determined. "Brandon, I'm with you!"

The rest agreed, "Yeah! We're with you, wherever you go."

After six years with Matthew, this betrayal was a low blow.

At a moment like this, only true friends stood by me.

I walked out with almost the entire tech department. Our dramatic exit turned heads throughout the building.

Heading down the stairs, I paused to stare at the towering Cloud Land logo and silently swore to get back everything I'd lost.

I treated everyone to dinner. The tech crew was seriously pissed, letting off steam by screaming and belting out tunes at karaoke.

Halfway through the song "Backstabber," someone suddenly screamed.

Robert rushed over, livid, flashing a headline at me: Cloud Land CEO Matthew Claims Victory for Homegrown Games.

I clicked the video. There was Matthew at the launch, smooth-talking and phony.

He took all the credit for Cloud Land's success in the video, talking up his struggles without mentioning me once.

A reporter asked sharply, "We've heard about a mysterious figure crucial to Cloud Land's start. Can we meet them today?"

Everyone in our room burst out, "I can't wait to see how he'll lie his way out of this one!"

Matthew's used to dodging bullets. He flashed a fake smile at the reporter and said, "Of course, I couldn't have done it without her. She's my assistant and girlfriend."

Ivy walked onto the stage shyly, and together, they shamelessly claimed all my hard work as their own in front of the cameras.

Everyone's anger boiled over. Someone shouted, "I'm going to expose him right now!"

Another added, "I'm taking him to court!"

And another said, "I hate seeing this creep win!"

I clenched my fists but stayed calm, took charge, and asked, "Do you trust me?"

Everyone nodded.

"Alright then, listen up. Go home, take a break. I'll call you when it's time to fight our battle," I said.

It was midnight by the time everyone cleared out. Instead of heading home, I headed to a friend's place.

I could hear video games as I approached. The door was already open, like he knew I'd come.

I entered his massive gaming room, decked out with all sorts of gaming rigs and streaming gear. It was a true gamer's haven.

Leo Clarke kept playing when I walked in, not stopping until he'd beaten the final boss.

Leo had been into gaming and making it big as a streamer since our college days.

"Hello, there. I've been waiting," he said.

I couldn't help but smirk. "What? Waiting to see if I'd crack?"

Leo looked a bit sorry for me. "I told you, man. Matthew's always been tricky. He finally got one over on you."

I wasn't in the mood to talk about it and grabbed a controller. "Game on?"

We gamed until dawn. Eventually, Leo asked, "Need anything from me? Just say it."

Gazing at the pale morning sky, with revenge simmering in my eyes, I said, "I want to do a livestream with you."

We set it up quickly. With Cloud Land's promo in full swing and Leo's huge following, his stream numbers skyrocketed, topping the charts.

As the views soared, Leo looked puzzled. "They kicked you out, and you're helping them promote the game?"

I didn't bother explaining, just told him, "Start the stream."